Best Month Ever?

The numbers certainly indicate that this could become the most prolific month in Phillies history. Using baseball-reference.com as a guide (as you all should), I found that the Phillies haven’t had a month like this in quite sometime.

In May of 1976 and in more recent times, June of 1892(!), the Phillies posted a 22-5 month. In ’76, the Phillies finished with a team-record 101 wins, which they would match the following year. The 1892 season was only an 87 win year, sorry old fellas.

Here are some other great months in Phillies history:

July 2009: 20-7

Sept 2008: 17-8

April 1993: 17-5

Sept 1983 22-7

Sept 1980: 19-10

Aug 1977: 22-7

Aug 1950: 20-13, July 1950: 21-13

Sept 1916: 22-9

But anyway, are we currently witnessing the most impressive month in Phillies history? If the Phils finish the month going 5-1, they’ll have a record of 23-4, which would be the most wins in any month ever, and maybe one of the better September/October runs in recent memory by any team.

The Colorado Rockies of 2007 stand out for a team that finished strong, and even they won’t come close. Those Rockies got steaming hot, winning 11 in a row and 14 of 15 to finish the year, and still only compiled a 20-8 September record.

If you go into the way-back machine, the ’02 Oakland A’s won 20 consecutive games in August and completed the month a ridiculous 24-4. The Phillies have an outside shot of nearing that win percentage with an incredible stretch run.

To the best of my knowledge using the internets, The Giants won 29 games in September of 1916, the most ever. The 1938 Yankees won 28 games in August of that year, the most by an AL team. Both were obviously aided by the use of doubleheaders during that time.

Whatever the case may be, you could be witnessing history yet again with this club. Depending on how they close, the 2010 Phillies could be setting themselves up for a prime run at the crown once again.

I remember 83, the Phillies record was 3 games over .500 at 68-65 the end of August when Joe Morgan took ownership. Joe hit over .625 for the entire month and to let you know how bad things were, he wound up hitting .230 for the year. Yes, he was hitting .180 for most of the season, the Phillies had no offense at all that year, 2 aging gents were trying to revive the offense Pete Rose (at 42 he had his worse and last season in Philadelphia) and Joe Morgan (he moved on to trudge one more year in the AL).

Time to break out the original predictions – I said 98 wins, Keith said 97. This was based on the team we had in March and April though, not this 3 headed monster we have now-it was going to be that many wins and a lot of hrs. I think I like the team better this way as sometimes the big win comes from a longball and sometimes from gritty play. This is great stuff, what a year.

If we can sweep the Mets this weekend, they are guarenteed home field advantage throughout the playoffs (Thank you Brian McCann). The Nats and Braves series will be completely meaningless (at least to the Phils – probably see a lot of KK, Worley and the b-team bullpen, everyone else will get just enough work to stay loose).

I think they’ll go 5-4 to finish up a great Sept (I thought they’d win 19 in Sept, just 1 win away with 9 to go). Killing yourself, risking injuries for meaningless wins in the regular season is a waste of time. Save it for the playoffs. Howard is still gimpy, PP looks like the elbow is hurting, and Vic is in a mini slump (facing all righties this weekend, I’d sit him at least one game, move Werth to center, D-Brown in right, maybe even try Gload in center 1 game). We’ll see a lot of Dobbs, Sweeney, Gload,and Francisco over the final week. We may need these guys in the playoffs, let them get some reps now.

I’m thinking that stinking knuckleball is a likely a candidate to stop the Phils streak as any, they can’t seem to get the hang of swinging at nothing but junk. But who knows? Phils may catch this turd and tear him up like almost every other team has.

Regardless, this month has been epic and to win more than 20 games in any month, especially September is amazing.

In 2000, the Yankees lost 15 of their last 18 games – and won the World Series.

In the wild card era – only 2 teams, of 20 total, that went 8-2 in their last 10 games won the World Series.

In 2006 the Tigers limped into the postseason, losing the division title on the last day they were playing so lousy – and beat the Yankees in the first round in 4 games. The Cardinals that year were 12-7 going into the playoffs – few picked them to win it all – and they did.

So, I could really give a flyin fig about September. We need to sow up the division and start resting people – even if Kendrick has to pitch the last 4 games on no days rest.

In case anyone forgot, the Phillies don’t need the best record in all of baseball to get home field through the WS. The NL won the All-Star game, so all they need is the best record in the NL, which seems like a formality right now.

I would like to wrap it up and rest some players. We have to take this one game at a time….also would like to see Worley in there he might contend for our fifth starter long type of relief type of guy…next year